Megumi Tachimoto captures Japan's 11th gold medal

Three-time World Championships bronze medallist Tachimoto Megumi bested Moscow Grand Slam silver medallist Yamabe Kanae (JPN) to win Japan’s 11th and last gold medal medal of the competition. Both judoka were penalised after 30 seconds with shido penalties for passivity before Tachimoto was at fault moments later for the same offence. Yamabe was unable to capitalise and, with the contest failing to ignite, was penalised with two shido penalties which was one more than Tachimoto after the five minutes elapsed.

Tachimoto booked her place in the final with victory over her 17-year-old compatriot Asahina Sara (JPN). The contest failed to spark anything of note as they cancelled each other out for the five minutes with two shido penalties against ASAHINA – one more than Tachimoto picked up – separating the judoka. In the second semi-final YAMABE defeated world and Olympic champion Ortiz as the Cuban was penalised four times for passivity to receive hansoku-make and drop into the repechage.

The first bronze medal was won by three-time World Championships silver medallist QIN Qian (CHN) against home fighter and losing semi-finalist Asahina . After a frantic exchange where both judoka looked to impose themselves the contest settled and Qin emerged with the medal after scoring a yuko with a harai-makikomi and following into osaekomi-waza as Asahina conceded the contest by submitting. The second bronze medal was clinched by Ortiz who bounced back with a win over Qingdao Grand Prix silver medallist MA Sisi (CHN). The Chinese fighter pressed for an opening but ORTIZ reacted well to step off an uchi-mata attempt and MA was reprimanded with two successive shido penalties for passivity before the Cuban showed her class with a morote-eri-seoi-nage earning ippon with 32 seconds left. Ortiz received a great ovation as the fans appreciated the defiant performance of the Olympic and world champion.